D.Jayaprakash v. the District Collector
Case brief
What is this about?
Writ petition (Article 226 mandamus) for time to pay mining/geology seniorage-cum-penalty of Rs.90,88,500/- imposed by RDO Coimbatore South (order dated 18.11.2024, Na.Ka.No.4145/2021/A2); Madras High Court allowed payment in installments without interest - Rs.15,00,000 by 26.02.2025, balance in five equal monthly installments from April 2025 by the 10th; default clause: 24% p.a. interest plus recovery; protection for petitioner citing Parkinson's disease; installment facility without prejudice to ongoing enquiry/investigation by District Collector, RDO and Assistant Director, Geology and Mining; disposed without costs; single-judge bench (D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, J.).
What did the court decide?
Time to pay granted in substance: the seniorage-cum-penalty of Rs.90,88,500/- is to be paid in installments without any further interest - Rs.15,00,000/- on or before 26.02.2025 and the balance in five equal monthly installments starting April 2025, each on or before the 10th of the month; default attracts 24% per annum interest and entitles the respondents to proceed to recover; installments do not absolve the petitioner from enquiry or investigation by the authorities; no order as to costs.